Translating GeoNutrition (TGN): Reducing mineral micronutrient deficiencies (MMNDs) in Zimbabwe

矿物质微量营养素缺乏(MMND)仍然是一个全球性挑战，影响着20多亿人的增长、发展、健康和生计。在撒哈拉以南非洲和南亚的低收入国家中，MMND尤其普遍。由于在家庭内不能平等地获得营养丰富的食物，妇女和儿童特别容易患上MMND。减少MMND的制约因素包括：(1)关于MMND分布的基线数据，特别是在一个国家内；(2)国家研究能力，为政策制定者、私营部门投资者和其他有关各方(公民、捐助者、公共卫生专业人员)提供可靠的证据基础和潜在解决方案所需的信息。我们基于正在进行的研究以及从现有的全球挑战研究基金(GCRF)和其他官方发展援助和机构资金组合中吸取的经验教训，就如何应对这一挑战积累了大量知识，旨在：(1)通过了解当地从土壤到人的营养，通过复杂的食品系统途径(‘地球营养’方法)，减少MMND的影响；以及(2)加强SSA的研究能力。这项工作将与津巴布韦的合作伙伴一起进行，在那里&GT；50%的人口受到MMND的影响。津巴布韦政府(GOZ)计划在2020/21年度将完整的MMND调查纳入更广泛的健康调查。因此，有机会通过以下方式产生影响：(1)为GOZ调查的设计提供信息，特别是通过翻译GCRF资助的马拉维的‘GeoNutrition’研究成果，以及(2)通过加强研究能力促进新的政策和商业化途径。该项目得到了GOZ的最高级别的支持，包括卫生和儿童保育部和高等教育部的支持。该项目是与津巴布韦大学(UZ)共同设计的。翻译的地球营养目标：1.共同设计一项国家监测方案，以建立津巴布韦的基准MMND。为了提高津巴布韦的机构和个人研究能力，包括测试缓解MMND的政策干预措施和促进私营部门参与，目标1将通过两个(平行)工作包(WPS)的活动交付，将营养(WP1)和农业部门(WP2)联系起来。WP1：生物标记物调查试点，以支持MMND的测绘，并为整个MMND监测方案的设计提供信息。活动顺序包括：(I)设计、(Ii)区域选择、(Iii)数据共享、(Iv)伦理审批、(V)培训和敏感性、(Vi)后勤/风险评估、(Vii)样本收集和处理(血液、尿液)、(Viii)储存/运输、(Ix)实验室。WP2：农业调查，将农业和营养政策联系起来，绘制影响MMNDs的粮食系统部分图，并确定新的市场机会。活动包括上述活动，样本采集侧重于土壤和作物。目标2将通过WP3交付，WP3将在变化理论范围内包括中期和最终评估。重点将特别放在提高数据管理、统计、道德和实验室方面的技能。分析、财务系统、高等教育课程开发和培训员培训(TOT)系统。加强研究能力的一个重要组成部分是如何发展研究文化和系统；什么对谁起作用、何时对谁起作用以及为什么，包括性别平等和社会包容战略如何运作。除了该奖项外，我们还将利用研究所的投资，共同开发UON和UZ之间基于新的UON/马拉维模式的联合博士课程，这将有助于激励私营部门参与食品、营养和农业服务部门。

Mineral micronutrient deficiencies (MMNDs) remain a global challenge affecting the growth, development, health, and livelihoods of more than 2 billion people. MMNDs are especially prevalent in Low Income Countries of sub Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia. Women and children are at particular risk of MMNDs due to unequal access to nutrient-rich foods within the home. Constraints to reducing MMNDs, especially in SSA, include: (1) baseline data on the distribution of MMNDs, especially within a country; (2) national research capacity to get the information needed to provide a sound evidence base, and potential solutions, for policy makers, private sector investors, and other interested parties (citizens, donors, public health professionals).We have built up substantial knowledge on how to approach this challenge based on ongoing research, and lessons learned, from an existing portfolio of Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF, and other ODA and institutional) funding, which seeks to, (1) reduce the impact of MMNDs by understanding local nutrition from the soil through to the person via complex food systems pathways (a 'GeoNutrition' approach), and (2) strengthen research capacity in SSA.The work will be undertaken with partners in Zimbabwe, where >50% of the population are affected by MMNDs. The Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) plans to embed a full MMND survey in a wider health survey in 2020/21. There is therefore a window of opportunity for impact by: (1) informing the design of this GoZ survey, specifically by translating GCRF-funded 'GeoNutrition' research findings from Malawi, and (2) promoting new policy and commercialisation pathways through research capacity strengthening. This project has the highest-level support from the GoZ, including from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, and the Ministry of Higher Education. The project has been co-designed with the University of Zimbabwe (UZ).Translating GeoNutrition Aims:1. To co-design a national surveillance programme to establish baseline MMNDs in Zimbabwe2. To improve institutional and individual research capacity in Zimbabwe, including to test policy interventions for alleviating MMNDs and to promote private sector engagementAim 1 will be delivered through activities in two (parallel) Work Packages (WPs), linking the Nutrition (WP1) and Agriculture (WP2) sectors. These can be scaled up as required.WP1: Biomarker Survey Pilot, to support mapping of MMNDs, and to inform the design of the full MMND surveillance programme. The activity sequence includes: (i) design, (ii) area selection, (iii) data sharing, (iv) ethical approvals, (v) training and sensitisation, (vi) logistics/risk assessments, (vii) sample collection and processing (blood, urine), (viii) storage/shipping, (ix) lab. analyses, (x) data management, (xi) data analyses, (xii) communication.WP2: Agricultural Survey, to link agriculture and nutritional policies, by mapping parts of the Food Systems which affect MMNDs, and to identify new market opportunities. Activities include those described above, with sample collection focusing on soils and crops.Aim 2 will be delivered via WP3, which will be designed to include interim and final evaluations, within a Theory of Change. Of particular focus will be improving skills in data management, statistics, ethics, lab. analyses, finance systems, Higher Education curriculum development, and training-of-trainer (ToT) systems. An important component of research capacity strengthening is how research cultures and systems are developed; what works, for whom, when, and why, including how gender and social inclusion strategies are operationalised. Beyond the award, we shall use institute investment to co-develop a joint PhD programme between UoN and UZ, based on new UoN/Malawi models, which shall help to incentivise private sector engagement in the food, nutrition, and agri-services sectors.